Step-bearing for spinning-spindles



Patented Mar. 31,1891.

Illtltli l 1| Z 3% w "Iv/V s J W WATTLES STEP BEARING FOR SPINNING SPINDLES.

1 e d 0 M 0 N NITED STATES LATnNT FFICE.

JOSEPH \VARREN WA' I IRS, OF CANTON, MASSACHUSEVIS.

STEP-BEARING FOR SPINNING-SPINDLES.

f3 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,341, dated March 31, 1891.

I Application filed August 5. 1890. Serial No. 361,055. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH W ARREN War- TLES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Canton, county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Bearings for Spinning-Spindles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, while relating generally to step-bearings which are made of soft, yielding, and elastic materials, has reference more particularly to that class of such devices which are made of felt or other analogous soft, yieldin g, and filamentous materials, its object being to provide a step-bearing of this class which, while possessing all the yielding and elastic propertiesheretofore possessed by them, shall at the same time prevent the wearing of the spindle down into the same below a certain distance.

To this end my invention consists in a step bearing which is composed of felt or other soft, yielding, and elastic material with a plate of metal or other hard and unyielding substance passing through the same parallel to and at the proper distance belowits upper end, whereby to form a surface upon which the lower end of the spindle may rest, all as will hereinafter more fully appean.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a bolster-holder, a bolster-tube, and a spindle with my invention applied in connection therewith; and Fig. 2, a transverse section thereof, taken in the plane at a; of Fig. 1, looking downward.

In both the figures like letters are employed to designate corresponding parts.

A indicates a bolster-holder, which is provided at its upper end with a reservoir a for receiving and holding the lubricant when supplied thereto, and with a nut to engaging \vitha suitable thread upon its exterior, by

means of which it may be secured to the spindie-rail.

Extending downward from the reservoir CL into the holder A is a cylindrical chamber o in which is arranged and closely fitted the bolster-tube B. This bolster-tubeis provided with the usual cylindrical bearing Z), extend ing axially of the same, and with the grooves 19 b and ducts 19 through which the circulation of the lubricant is effected. Supported in the bearing 1) is the spindle O, which is equipped with the usual sleevewhirl c and collar 0, all as shown.

The parts as thus far alluded to possess no novelty in themselves, but are or may be of the form illustrated in Letters Patent No. 481,731, granted to me July 8, 1890, to which reference may be had, and require no further description herein.

Located in the chamber a is the step-bearing which constitutes my present invention. As here shown,it consists of a suitable body portion (1, formed of felt or other soft, yielding, and elastic filamentous material, and is fitted to the chamber or holder a either tighly or loosely, as may be preferred. In some cases I build it up from a series of felt disks, as shown in the patent above referred to, and in others I make it of a single thickness of felt, and this is the construction I preferin practice. Passing through the body (3 near its upper end, and preferably parallel thereto, or approximately so, is a plate d, upon which the lower end of the spindle rests and by which its wearing down into the material composing the body of the bearing is prevented. This plate may be made of metal, glass, agate, vulcanized fiber, or other equivalent hard and unyielding material and of any convenient form. I prefer, however, to make it of steel, and to construct it in the form of a narrow strip, as shown in Fig. 2, as its insertion into the felt body when the latter is made of a single thickness is thereby facilitated and greater freedom of movement therein permitted.

Instead of being located near the upper end of the felt body, as shown, the plate may be placed lower down therein and still be of value; but in practice I have found thatits greatest value is attained when placed near the top,

as a larger amount of the felt composing the body is then disposed under it and the cushioning effect produced thereby is greatly enhanced.

The step-bearing, when arranged as above described, will be held in place by the lower end of the bolster-tuhe pressing down upon it, as in the Letters Patent aforesaid; but it is to be understood that the step-bearing is not restricted to a use in connection with that construction alone, as it is obvious that the same may also be employed in connection with any of the other forms of spindles, bolsters, and holders, and that, too, Whether the bolsters are rigidly fixed or movable.

In the foregoing I have described the best means contemplated by me for carrying my invention intopractice, but do not limit myself strictly thereto, as it is manifest that I may modify the same in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of. the United States, is

1. A step-bearing for spindles, composed of a soft, yielding, and elastic body and a plate of hard unyielding material arranged therein, substantially as described.

2 A step-bearing for spindles, composed of a soft, yielding, and elastic filamentous body and a plate of metal arranged therein substantially parallel to its upper end, essentially as specified. 7

3. A step-bearing for spindles, composed of a felt body and a plate of metal inserted in the same substantially parallel to its upper end, as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination, with a bolster-holder, a bolster-tube, and a spindle, of a step-bearing composed of a soft, yielding, and elastic body, With a plate of hard unyielding material inserted stherein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of August, 1890.

JOSEPH \VARREN VATTLES.

'Witnesses V JOSEPH W. \VATTLES, J 1 GEO. S. WENTWORTH. 

